Williams Lake man fined for setting off fireworks to celebrate end of fire evacuation

Williams Lake, BC – RCMP arrested an intoxicated resident after vigilant members of the community reported fireworks being set off in the Carson Road area.

During the early morning hours of August 5, 2017, Williams Lake RCMP responded to reports of a mischief in progress, after receiving information that fireworks were being launched from a property in the area of Carson Drive and Central Court. RCMP responded to the area and identified the individual believed to be responsible, after officers located several empty fireworks canisters on the man’s property.

“The 34-year-old Williams Lake man later told police that he set the fireworks off in celebration of returning home after his evacuation,” says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, Communications Officer for the BC RCMP in Williams Lake. “It is careless acts such as this that have the real potential to trigger even more interface wildfires in the area.”

The man sobered up overnight in RCMP cells. He was later released from police custody, with in excess of $1,000 of fines for allegedly dropping, releasing or mishandling a burning substance, as well as for failing to comply with high risk activity restrictions under both the provincial BC Wildfire Act and its Regulations.

(RCMP)

“RCMP wish to thank those astute members of the community who called in the complaint, had this man’s actions been overlooked the outcome could have been dire for the entire community,” adds Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.

A charge should not be considered as evidence of guilt.
In Canada, all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All reports are written by police media departments. Sometimes CaPR staff create report titles.